By TwoCircles.net Staff Reporter,
Hyderabad: Jubilee hills police have arrested Editor Chandrashekar, Sub Editor Vijay Lakshmi and other employees of Telugu daily Andhra Prabha along with writer Sheikh Mehboob on Monday for ‘hurting religious sentiments of Muslims’. Later in the evening all of them were released on bail.
Andhra Parbha owned by New Indian Express Group on May 1 had published the article titled ‘Mahopakari Mohammed Pravakta’ (Mercy for the mankind Prophet Mohammed) from Hyderabad, carried on page 12, which had the image of old bearded man with Turkish features.
Andhra Prabha apology
After getting under heavy criticism from various quarters of Muslim community, who saw the sketch as depiction of Prophet Mohammed, Andhra Prabha tendered apology in Urdu and Telugu in all its editions on May 2.
But by that time damage was already done as several demonstrations erupted in the city against the daily. On the complaint of MIM general secretary Ahmed Pasha Quadri to Additional Police Commissioner (law&order), Jubilee hills police station, under whose jurisdiction Andhra Prabha office is located, registered a case under Section 153(A) (promoting enmity in groups on ground of religion) and 295(A) (deliberate or malicious acts intend to outrage religious feelings) of the Indian Penal Code. Another political party MBT also gave the similar complaint.
Sheikh Mehboob, writer of the article who since the beginning of the controversy pleaded his innocence, told TwoCircles.net that police did a brief questioning regarding the publication. “I told the police that I have written only the article, the publication of sketch was carried out by the newspaper, which they have to explain,” he said.
Mehboob said that newspaper staff told the police that it was an honest mistake on part of new intern who edited the column and took the decision to put a image of some ‘Muslim Baba’ in the article as they do the same practice with articles related to Hinduism.
Reportedly the newspaper staff was miffed that police was taking action against them even though they have tendered an apology and accepted their mistake. Mehboob also informed that police had directed them to be present again when courts issue the summons.
Related:
Prophet caricature controversy: Newspaper gives unconditional apology